Smyrna times., 1887-08-10
LIMITS OF HUMAN LIFE.
How 1t May BE Prolonged Beyond the
Average LengtIl-CentenarIan

How 1t May he Prolonged Beyond the
Average LengtIl-CentenaFieBs,
/ have before me the records of no less
than ffty-twO centenarians, the details
III regard to whom have been collected by
a committee of the British Medical assOci-
alton. Let US see whether an inquiry into
these details suggests anything either as
to what are, probably, the natural limits
Of human life, or as TO the regimen by
which life may be prolonged beyond its
average length.
OF the ffty-two no fewer than thirty
six more than twO-thirds) are women.
This may probably be attributed in large
part to the comparative immunity that
women enjoy from many risks to which
men are exposed, but probably it is due
not less to their greater temperance and
to their freedom from the anxieties and
heartburnings which attend mems strug-
giles for influence, and even maintenance.
Medical men contend, however, that
women also possess greater inherent vital
it, than men, the mortality of girls being
less than that Of boys, even during the
first year Of life, when the female is
neither more temperate nor less ambi-
tiOus than the male, and is exposed to as
many dangers.
OF the sixteen men one only was single;
ten Of the thirty=siX women were single;
fifteen men and twepty=siX women, then,
among the centenarians. were married;
but, naturally enough, Of these forty-One
a large number, all in fact but five. were
widowed Three Of the fifty-twO were
rich, nineteen poor, the rest in comfort
able circumstances, nine were fat (Only
one man, twenty-three lean, eighteen
medium; only eight were full blOoded; the
| rest average or pale. Forty had good
digestion, which, after 100 years, means a
good deal. Most Of the flfty-two have had
/ good appetites, only two having appetites
| classed as actually bad most Of them have
been through life moderate eaters; twelve,
1 however, have eaten large quantities of
/ food Only one is returned as a large
/ cater Of flesh and blood, and only one as a
! great consumer Of alcoholic liquors lin his
case the liquor preferred has been beer.
Only eight Of all the number are classified
is simply irritable but to these must
be added five classed as Irritable and
/ energetic
Unfortunately, however, the inquiries
have not in such matters as these been ex-
tended into the past. A man or woman
may be very irritable in extreme old
age and we may call 100 good old
age, even here when / am striving to show
that it is the natural limit Of life) who has
been very placid and even extremely ami
able throughout the greater part Of his OF
her career.
AS to smoking, thirty-two are non
smoking, seventeen smoke much -four of
them are women, three moderately, and
two a little; only one chews; thrty-seven
avoid snuff. Most Of the remaining re.
turns, relating only to the actual cOndi
tiOn Of the fifty-twO eentenarians, at pres
ent, are of no special interest, showing
only that the same weaknesses prevail In
about the same degres among them as
many men and women of the averag,
Sort between 20 and so years old II
only our fifty two centenarians could hav,
been examined twenty years ago IN thes,
respects, the world might have obtained
some useful hints. 1t is worthy of notice
however, that most Of them were fret
/. from rheumatic and gouty troubles. Tn,
only man whose joints were stiff an,
defOrmed from such causes stated, il
reply to questions as to his capacity
and taste for strong drink, 81 alway
drank as much as | could, and / alway
will'-nOt a case, it will be observed, o
''Wiilful will 70 water so Willful mus
wet, /" but of Willful would not to waite
and so wet his whistle to his own discom
fort. Richard A. Proctor in The Cosmo
pOlitan,